Steering mechanism for torpedoes.



F. M. LEAVITT.

STEERING MECHANISM FOR TORPBDOES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.1 3, 1908.

Patented June 22, 1909.

I SSHEBTB-SHEET 1.

$ INVENTQR I 1) Azzowzcys, mam

WITNESSES: iwz MA F. M. LBAVITT.

STEERING MECHANISM FOR TORPEDOES;

.A PPLIUATION FILED .TAN.13, 1908.

Patented June 22, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR M W 1511 Aftomeys, v Wbm arm WITNESSES:

' unrrnn STATES PATENT FRANK M. l-I \"llT, 01 NEW YORK, N Y., ASSIGNOR TO E. W. BLISS (O3'IPANY, OF BROOKLYN, N MY 101th, A CORPORATION OI WEST VIRGINIA.

STEERING MECHANISM FOR TORPEDOES.

' Application filed January 13, 1908.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 22, 1909.

Serial No. 410,707.

To alfwliom it may concern:

Be it l nown that I, FRANK M. Lnxvrrr, a citizen of theUnitcd States. residing in the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings. city and State of New York, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements in Steering Mechanism for 'lorpedoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to gyroscopic steering apparatus for automobile torpedoes.

The improvements relate chiefiy to what is known as the unlocking gear, comprising the gyroscope spinning means, the means for setting the gyroscope free after spinning and upon the launching of the torpedo, and means for resetting the )arts for a new operation; and to what is called the .angle-geai" whereby the steering mechanism may be set to cause the torpedo to steer in a course differing by a determined angle from the direction in which it aimed.

Figure'l of the accoi'npanying drawings is a fragmentary vertical section in a plane coincident with the longitudinal axis of the torpedo. Fig. 2 is mainly an elevation looking aft, the torpedo shell and pro pellcr shaft being in transverse section. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section mainly in the planes of the line in Fig. 1. 4, 5 and 6 are fragmentary horizontal sections taken respectivelyin the planes of the lines 44. 55, and 6-4), in F1g.'1.

V Fig. 5 isa fragmentary plan of a part of Fig. 5. Flg. 7 is a frag-- mentary elevation.

Referring to the drawings, let A designate B the the shell or hull of the torpedo. main driving shalt thereof, which is usually placed 1n the axis of the torpedo, and C the gyroscope as a whole. The latter comprises afl v-wheel I) universally suspended in an ordinary manner by means of inner and outer gimbal rings Eand F, the former having pivots a by which it is pivoted on a horizontal axis in the ring I and the latter having ivots b by'which it is pivoted on a vertica axisin'a fixedframe G.

F orspinningthe-gyroscope the same means is employed as that set forth in myLetters Patent No. 814,969, granted March 13, 1906. That is to say, a gear wheel II, keyed on the shaft B, drives a pinion I formed on a movablesh aft J arranged in line with the normal axis of thefly-wheel, and having its. end formed as a clutch 0 adapted for engagement with a reciprocal clutch 0 formed on the end v ratchet wheel P.

of the axial shaft or spindle d of the fly wheel. The inner ring E is formed with a neck or sleeve (1 inclosing the spindle d and adapted to be entered by the shaft J This shaft is movable longitudinally, being slidable in its bearings, and for this purpose being engaged by a slide K. f

To set the apparatus read for launching, the shaft J is advanced so t at its'rear end enters the sleeve e, thereby holding the gyroscope rings fixedly in position, so that the gyroscope is locked, the clutch end 0' of the shaft also engages the clutch end 0 of the fly-wheel spindle, so that the turning of the former must turn the latter. Upon the launching of the torpedo the engine is started in the well known manner, so that the main shaft B is revolved, turning at first slowly, and rapidly acceleratim its speed its rotation is communicated iihrough gear H and pinion I to more rapidly turn the shaft J, which-by its engagement with the spindle (Z spins up the fly-wheel to high velocity. It is necessary, after allowing a sufficient interval of time for accomplishing this result, to quickly withdraw the shaft J, whereby it is disengaged from the fly-wheel and pulls out of the sleeve c, so as to set free the rings of the gyroscope. This operation is called. unlocking. The unlocking mechanism will now be explained.

The main shaft B has fixed upon it a gear wheel L which meshes with and drives a cam gear M which rotates on a fixed axis. This gear has an eccentric cam groovej" which is engaged by a pin f on a rock-lever N fulcrumed on a stud n fastened to a part G of the fixed frame G. The lower arm of lever N engages and reciproeates a slide which is movable horizontally and transversely in a slideway formed in a fixed part or frame. G The slide 0 is shown as a cylindrical part sliding in a cylindrical bore and having a transverse pin 9 en aged by the forked lower end of the lever The slide 0 car- 100 ries a-pflwl P (Fig. 4) engaging the teeth of a The pawl is shown as carried in a slot formed centrally through the slide, which-slot is also partly entered by the ratchet wheel. a A spring I is fastened to the 105 slide and 'presses the pawl against the ratchet teeth. v

The ratchet wheel P is fixed-on an upright spindle Q which constitutes the unloc ing splndle, and the lower end of which 110 passes out through a stufling box in the shell, and has a head Q by whichit may be turned from the exterior. This spindle has fixed to it an unlocking cam R, shown best in Fig. 5. This is a snail cam, and engages a pin 7t forming part of a link S which is pivoted by a pin 7b" to an unlocking lever T. This lever has its lower end fulcrumed in a fixed part i, and its upper endengages the slide K.- The lever is pressed outward by a strong spring U which tends to throw the pars into the unlocked position. In the preliminary setting, the spindle Q is turned by the operator in the direction of the arrow.

in Fig. 5, so that the snail cam R presses back the pin it, and, through the link S, pulls the lever T aftward. to bring the parts to the locked position. This leaves the cam R in the position shown in Fig. 5

At starting, during the launching operation the first few turns of the main shaft B transmit motion through the cam M and lever N and reciprocate the slide 0, so that the pawl turns the ratchet wheel P through a proximately 90 degrees, thereby turning t 1e cam R from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig. 5, so that the pin it is released by the projecting part of the cam, and under the impulse of the spring U moves 'tothe position shown in Fig. 5, so that the lever T and slide K are moved forcibly and instantly to the position shown in Fig. 1, thereby erforming the unlocking movement. Tie ratchet wheel P has teeth on only a portion of its circumference, say 90 degrees, so that when turned through a corresponding angle the teeth pass beyond the pawl and the wheel stops, the pawl afterward moving impotentl against the toothless portion of the whee Owing to the cramped space available, it is preferable to construct the link S of two plates passing above and below the cam R, connected at one end by the pin h, and at the other by blocks 72 riveted through, and which receive the pivot pin h as shown. The pin h is prolonged upwardly and carries a head or roller which moves in a guiding groove 1" formed in the fixed frame G, this groove serving to keep in h in a straight path. In Fig. 5 the rol er is shown by the dotted circle 72,3, and the groove is shown by the dotted lines 4,.

The spring U is shown as mounted between a stationary ear U supported on the spindle Q, and a movable plunger U having a pivotal connection with the lever T.

The gyroscope controls the steering mechanism through any suitable connection, either mechanical or electrical.- An example of an electrical connection is shown in my United States Letters Patent No. 785,425, granted March 21, 1905. A suitable mechanical connection is that set forth in my United States Letters Patent No. 795,045,

in different planes, which, at a given point in the circumference, meet through the interposition of e cam-tooth Z. The feeler W is of the shape shown in Fig. 3, with its opposite PIOJGCUODS, or those in diirerent planes, corresponding to those of the ribs it it, and spaced apart a distance corresponding to the width of the tooth l. The fecler is mounted to reciprocate rapidly toward and from the flange j, touching it lightly and then retreating from it, so that it receives from the disk a position which depends upon whether it touches the disk coincidently with the cam Z, or to one side or the other thereof; and in retreating therefrom it communicates control according to such P05113101) to the steering mechanism.

This device forms no part of my present invention, and is here illustrated only to make clear the description of the angle-gear which follows.

The disk or turn-table V is mounted rotatively upon the ring F, so that while the ring is held stationary the disk may be turned to any desired angle thereon. A.

frictional engagement of the two is preferable. This may be accomplished as shown in Fig. 1, where the disk engages an annular bearing formed-on the ring, and is held in place by a detachable ring or flange 'm. The purpose of thus adjusting the disk is to vary the direction of the course to be,

steered by the torpedo relatively to the direction in which it is aimed or pointed in launching. the direction in which it is thus aimed, the disk V is set to its normal or zero position, (as, Fig. 3) so that the tooth Z exactly coincides with the feeler N. If, however, the course of the torpedo is to deviate by any desired angle from the direction in which it is aimed, it is only neces- If the torpedo. is to travel us sary to turn the disk V in the appropriate direction through an angle equal to tl angle of deviation desired. Thus if ,ie course of the torpedo is to diverge by 00 degrees from the initial direction of launching, the disk V is turned through 90 degrees from the zero position, as shown inFig; The effect of this turning is that the feeler W is tilted as there shown, and consequently through its control of the steering mechanism turns the rudder in the appropriate direction,to steer the torpedo through an initial are, the rudder being held hard over in this position until the torpedo shall have traversed such initial are, at the termination of which it is headed upon its ultimate course 90 degrees from'the direction in which it was launched. During this time the disk V, by reason of the persistence of direction of the gyroscope, remains fixed in (lireetion,"tl1e other parts of the torpedo swinging gradually .around it. Or, otherwise stated, the gyroscope and disk V turn relatively to the other parts of the torpedo until the cam tooth Z passes from (for eX- ample) the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, to the zero position shown in dotted lines. 011 reaching the latter position, the feeler VJ, which thus far has been tilted,is straightened, and as the torpedo swings across its ultimate course the feeler is tilted in the contrary direotion, so that by its control of the steering mechanism the rudder is brought first to the mid-ships position, and then turned sulficiently to the opposite side to straighten the torpedo on its course. After this occurs the torpedo follows approximately its ultimate course, any variation therefrom being automatically corrected by the operation of the steering mechanism under control of the gyroscope.

The present invention provides for conveniently setting the disk or turntable to the desired angle just preparatory to launeh mg, and after the parts are all assembled 1n the torpedo, or even after the torpedo is 111 the launching tube, so that the course of the torpedo may be determined at the last mo- -ment before firing or launching. To this end the turn-table V is provided with peripheral gear teeth p making it a worm wheel, these teeth being engaged by a worm carried on a tubular shaft X, which is swiveled to a shaft Y. When the mechanism is set ready 'with the teeth 1), so that by turning the,

for launching. the worm g is 111 engagement shaft Y, whieh also turns the tube X, the worm acts to rotate the turn-table V while the gyroscope rings are locked fast by the engagement of the shaft J. By turning the shaft Y in the proper direction, and for a suitable number ofrevolutions, the turntable V may be displared any desired number of degrees in either direction from it normal orzero position. The torpedo being then launched, the operation of the unlocking .mechanism, as hereinbefore described, takes place, and at the same instant the orm q is carried out of mesh with the. teeth p, so as to leave the turn-table free, and carried solely by the gyroscope ring. The construction of these several parts will now be explained. The shaft 1 extends horizontally, and either end mav be prolonged to and through the "shell of the torpedo for eonvenienee in turning it. The tube X carrying the worm q is conveniently made eomeal. One

- by which to turn it.

end of this tubeis swiviled to the shaft Y,

and its other end is carried in a movable bearing or slide Z by the movement of whieh the tube may be so displaced as to carry the worm into or out of mesh with the worm wheel. This movable bearing or slide takes its motion from the unlocking shaft This shaft carries a cam Z, best shown in Fig. 6, the groove'in which is' engaged by a pin 1" carried on a lever arm 8 fixed upon a vertical shaft 2% to which is fixed another arm- .9 which connects by a link s" to the slide Z. Before launching, the cam Z is in such position that its groove holds the pin 1* away from the shaft Q, and the slide Z is moved. toward the right so as to carry the conical tube X into position concentric, with the shaft Y; the worm is thus in mesh with the worm wheel, so that any desired adjustment of the latter can be made by turning the shaft and worm. During the launching operation the partial rotation of the shaft Q, as already described, turns the cam Z 'to such position (see l (3) that the cam groove acting on the pin r displaces the bearing slide Z to the position shown.

The swivel for connecting the shaft Y with the tube or hollow shaft X may be variously construetedQ The constrnrtion showr comprises a collar '21 through which passes the shaft Y which has fixed on it an arm u: having apin which enters a hole in the collar it The eolla r has aperipheral groove turning within a split ring '11 which is fastened to the frame (:l by sr rews. The collar 71 has a ll ange provided with pivot screws 1! which engage at diannetrieally opposite points a su ivel ringer gimbal r. This 'ring is in similar manner provided with pivot screws '2", shown in dotted lines in Fig. (on a diametriral axis at right-angles to that of the screws 1.1 by whieh the ring n is engaged with 'the tube X.

So far as mmeerns the angle gear and the means for diseoimer-tingthe angle adjusting device from the disk or turn-table Y, it is immaterial to my invention what means may be adopted for transmitting eontrolfrom the g \;'roseope to the steering mechanism. This means may be electrical or mechanical as in my aforementioned patents. The means herein shown as an example, however, is deemed preferable. l

VVhat- I claim is.

1. A gyroscope comprising gimbal rings and an unlocking mechanism therefor comprising a locking part, a spring tending to withdraw it, and a progressively moving part for restraining said locking part adapted to release it at the endof a predetermined movement.

2. A gyroscope comprising gimbal rings and an unlocking mechanism therefor comprising a locking part, a spring tending to withdraw itxa cam for restraining said part,

and means for progressively displacing said cam to release said part.

3. A gyroscope comprising gimbal rings and an unlocking mechanism therefor comprising a locking part, a rotatable cam controlling the latter and adapted upon a given movement to unlock the gyroscope, a propeller shaft, and means driven by said shaft for turning said cam.

4. A gyroscope comprising gimbal rings and an unlocking mechanism therefor comprising a locking part, a rotatable unlocking shaft, a cam on said shaft ada ted upon a given movement to release said ocking part, a propeller shaft, and means driven by said. propeller shaft for turning said unlocking shaft.

5. A gyroscope comprising gimbal' rings and an unlocking mechanism therefor comprising a locking part, a rotatable unlocking shaft, a ratchet and pawl for turning said shaft, and means connected with said shaft and locking part adapted upon the completion of a given movement of the shaft to Withdraw said locking part.

6. A -gyroscope unlocking mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft, a ratchet wheel thereon having a toothed portion and a toothless portion, a reciprocating pawl engagingsaid ratchet Wheel and adapted to engage its teeth and to turn it a distance cor responding to its toothed portion, said shaft having means whereby it may be turned manually to its starting position.

7. A gyroscope unlocking mechanism comprising a locking shaft J, a slide K, a shaft Q, a spring U tending to press said slide to the unlocking position, a cam R on the latter shaft, and a connection to said slide engaged by said cam.

S. A gyroscope unlocking mechanism comprising a locking shaft J, a lever T for displacing said shaft, a spring U pressing against said lever, a-link S engaging said lever, a restraining cam R engaging said link, and means for turning said cam.

9. A gyroscope unlocking mechanism comprising a locking part, a r t tatable shaft Q, a ratchet wheel P on said shaft, a reciprocating slide 0, a pawl carried thereby engaging said ratchet Wheel, a lever N for reciprocating said slide, and a cam M for moving said lever.

10. A gyroscope comprising gimbal rings, a turn-table adjustable thereon, a locking part for holding said rings stationary, an

adjusting device engaging said turn-table for turning it, and an unlocking mechanism ada ted to Withdraw said locking part and to 'sengage said adjusting device to free the gyroscope.

11. A gyroscope comprising gimbal rings, a turn-table adjustable thereon, a locking part "for holding said rings stationary, an adjusting device engaging said turn-table for turning it, and means adapted to disengage said adjusting device.

12. A gyroscope comprising gimbal rings, a turn-table adjustable thereon having gear teeth, an adjusting device for turning said turn-table comprising a gear engaging said teeth, and means for disengaging said adjusting device adapted to displace said gear out of engagement with said teeth.

13. A gyroscope comprising gimbal rings, a turn-table adjustable thereon having gear teeth, an adjusting device for turning said turn-table comprising a worm, a shaft carrying said worm in vable toward and from said turn-table, and means for disengaging said adjusting device adapted to displace said shaft to bring said Worm out of mesh with said teeth.

14. A gyroscope comprising gimbal rings,

a turn-table adjustable thereon, an adjusting device for turning said turn-table comprising a movable shaft, and means for laterally displacing said shaft comprising a rotatable cam operatively connected to said shaft.

15. A gyroscope comprising gimbal rings, a turn-table adjustable thereon, a locking part for holding said rings stationary, an adjusting device engaging said turn-table for turning it, and an unlocking mechanism adapted to Withdraw said locking part comprising a rotative cam, and connections therefrom to said adjusting device.

16. A gyroscope comprising gimbal rings, a turn-table adjustable thereon, a locking part for holding said rings stationary, an adjusting device engaging said turn-table for turning it comprising a rotatable shaft, a

tubular shaft swiveled thereon, and a gear carried by the latter and engaging teeth on said turn-table.

'In Witness Wl18160f,1 have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK M. LEAVITT. \Vitnesses:

ARTHUR O. FnAsEn, FRED WHITE. 

